"She was a weaver of life, a healer whose hands had mended countless souls. I grew up in the shadow of her grace, adoring her from the time I was small. When she passed, she left me her necklace—a silent inheritance that whispered, 'You are next.' I threw myself into the service of our village, desperate to fill her shoes. But when the demons descended, I was paralyzed. To say I was 'terrified' would be to diminish the chilling cold that gripped my heart. Yet, as the daughter of the village chief, I had no luxury of cowardice. I fortified our walls and tended the fallen with trembling hands. In the end, I became a savior to many, though my own brother nearly paid the price for my inexperience. But when I looked at you, my Lord, I saw more than a warrior. I saw the hope that I, too, could become a hero."

  ?The Ice Lord gazed at the girl, his piercing eyes reflecting a familiar fire. He recognized that look—the same dream, the same desperate yearning. Despite the raw fear that had once shaken her, she had stepped forward into the fray.

  ?"You possess the spirit of a hero," he said, his voice like cracking frost. "But the time is not yet. You must learn the art of patience; the world is still too large for one so young."

  "Did you not say I have what it takes?" she pressed, her voice defiant.

  "I did. But the word 'hero' is not a title; it is a crushing weight. It is a life of perpetual trial."

  ?"What do you mean?"

  "I mean the burden of salvation and the crucible of sacrifice," he replied gravely. "A hero may be required to lay down their life so that total strangers might draw breath. We do not save to be etched into stone or remembered in song; we save so that the next generation may simply exist. That is a truth your heart cannot yet weigh."

  "If that is the price," she declared, "I am ready to pay it."

  "Your resolve remains?"

  "It does."

  ?In a blur of motion, the Ice Lord seized the girl’s hand and—with a sickening snap—broke it. A jagged scream tore from her throat as she collapsed, clutching her arm in agony. "My hand! You’ve cut it... you’ve broken it!"

  Then, the frost shimmered. The illusion shattered like thin glass. Her arm was whole; the pain was gone.

  ?"Girl, that is the reality of the path you seek," the Ice Lord said, his gaze unrelenting. "Remember that scream. Remember the agony you felt, even when it wasn't real. We endure that every single day. It is a tax we pay in blood. You are far too young for such a debt. Forget this dream. Be a healer, like your mother—it is a kinder fate."

  ?Overwhelmed by the bitter truth of the illusion, the girl turned and fled toward her home, her tears trailing behind her in the dust.

  ?Volak watched her go, leaning back with a sigh. "That was a particularly cruel way to break the news. For a moment, I thought you’d actually maimed her. Had you truly struck her, I might have had to test my steel against yours."

  "My apologies," the Ice Lord murmured.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "No need—it served its purpose. But proverbs and illusions won't dim the light in those eyes. I know that look. An old friend of mine wore it once."

  "A friend? Does this friend have a name?"

  "Ryoga."

  ?Volak stiffened, a visible shudder running through him. "You mean to tell me the most dangerous hero in the realm is your friend?"

  "More than a friend. We were brothers in all but blood. He carried those same eyes. I can recite every sacrifice he made for the kingdom, yet I cannot fathom why he turned to the demons of Roz. I didn't want that girl to see the world through his lens—she is still a child."

  ?Meanwhile, deep within the bowels of a lightless cavern, a demon descended into the abyss in search of a legend. When he reached the pit, the sheer scale of the creature before him stole his breath.

  "By the Void... the beasts of the Old Covenant are monstrous," he whispered, trembling. "A single sample of this flesh could sustain the demon tribes for generations. No—focus. My stomach can wait. Once I place the Control Stone, this titan will be bound to our will."

  ?He pressed the glowing stone against the beast, but instead of subduing the monster, the stone withered and turned to ash in his hand.

  "What? It rejected the stone? Is its mana truly that overwhelming?" He looked up at the sleeping colossus. "Do you even hear me? Ah, it doesn't matter. You won't wake. The Old Covenant will keep you in this dreamless slumber. A comfortable life, truly—sleeping through the centuries while I remain a mere second-rank grunt."

  ?He sighed, adjusting his gear. "The plan remains. I will find Dimas, even if I have to cut through you to do it. But for now... the backup plan. If I cannot control the beast, I will lead a 'gift' to it. Something for it to play with while I finish my work. And it’s quite fortunate that one of the Seven Knights happens to be nearby."

  ?The Ice Lord awoke later to a pungent, acrid smell. Beside his bed sat a plate of what could only be described as charred offerings. Rose stood over him, beaming.

  "Ice Lord! I prepared this especially for you."

  He stared at the blackened mass. "It’s... obvious. Did your father not cook? Didn't you want to share a meal with him?"

  "Eat first," she insisted, shoving a forkful toward him. "Then we talk."

  ?As he chewed the charcoal-flavored mystery, he looked toward the heavens. Forgive me, my God, for the lie I am about to tell. "It’s... unique," he managed.

  "About yesterday," Rose said, her expression turning somber. "About being a hero. My heart hasn't changed. Even after the pain you showed me."

  "You are still dwelling on it? Even after feeling the sting of the abyss?"

  "Yes. Because of that feeling, I realized you were right. So, I’ve been training to endure it."

  "Training? How?"

  "I conquered that pain with an even greater one."

  "And what might that be?"

  "It’s a secret, sir. Now, do you want me on your team?"

  "No."

  "Why are you so cold?" she huffed. "Even my clumsy brother got an assignment. He and Iris rode Sora, the spectral eagle, to scout the village."

  ?The Ice Lord let out a dry laugh. "You think Sora is 'sweet'? Trust me, that bird only seeks entertainment. If he can't find it, he creates it."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean your brother is likely hanging from Sora’s talons by his fingernails right now. Sora doesn't grip—he expects you to hold on for dear life. As for Iris? Sora has a soft spot for girls, so she’s safe. That is the eagle’s wicked streak."

  ?Rose groaned. "My foolish brother... I should have known. But why are you still in bed? Why aren't you on patrol?"

  "I am the Commander," he said simply.

  "That’s not an excuse," she mimicked. "That's just what a lazy leader says."

  ?Back in the demon's lair, the grunt knelt before his superior.

  "Sir, the stone... it shattered."

  "Shattered? The stone built to contain the power of gods?"

  "Yes, sir. The beasts of the Old Covenant are beyond our calculations."

  "Then the plan must evolve," the superior mused. "We cannot face it directly without breaking the treaty."

  "Then what do we do?"

  "We don't face it at all. We let the Ice Lord do it. He is the finest blade the humans have; he will exhaust himself against the beast, and we will move in to sweep up the ruins. Prepare the soldiers. And sir... I have a surprise waiting for you. I think you'll find it quite exquisite